Net support structure

ABSTRACT

A net support structure is disclosed which provides for easy assembly and disassembly at any location for enabling games such as tennis and volleyball to be played as well as providing a rebound net or safety net for use in other sporting games or for the practice of sporting games. The net support structure includes a plurality of modules (12, 22, 24 and 26) which are joined together by an elastic cord (50) or springs (100) and which when connected together tension the modules to form a net support structure and which can be collapsed by disconnecting the modules and allowing the modules to be folded whilst at the same time keeping the modules joined by the tensioning means. Elbows (30) are provided which form corners and which are permanently or releasably joined by the cord (50). If releasably joined the elbows (30) can be repositioned to alter the configuration of the net support structure.

This invention relates to a net support structure and in particular to anet support structure for supporting a tennis net, volleyball net apractice or protection net and the like.

Conventional net support for tennis nets, volleyball nets or the likegenerally comprise posts which are either permanently fixed to theground or located in sockets in the ground. Both of the conventionalstructures require the net to be located in a predetermined position byvirtue of the fixed sockets into which the posts are inserted and do notallow the net to be easily set up in other environments for use on anysuitable playing surface.

The object of this invention is to provide a net support structure whichis easily transportable and which can be set up on any suitable playingarea.

The invention may be said to reside in a net support structurecomprising;

a pair of upright frame members,

a cross frame member,

at least two joining members for joining the pair of upright members tothe cross member, and

a tensioning means for joining the upright members and cross member, sothat when the uprights and cross frame members are connected by thejoining members the upright members and cross member are tensioned toform an erected net support structure and when disconnected from oneanother whilst remaining joined by the tensioning means to allow the netsupport structure to be collapsed and stored.

Since the net support comprises upright members and the cross memberwhich are joined by a joining member they can be easily disconnected fortransportation and storage and can be set up anywhere and will be selfsupporting by virtue of the tension applied by the tension means andalso with the tension means. Thus, the net can be set up on any suitableplaying area without the need of fixed posts or sockets in the groundfor receiving posts.

Preferably the upright members and cross member comprises tubularmembers.

Preferably the joining members comprises a joining elbow having firstand second sockets for receiving ends of the upright members and thecross member.

Preferably the joining members includes an additional pair of socketscojoined in a plane transverse to a plane containing the first andsecond sockets, for receiving leg members for stably supporting the netsupport structure on the ground.

Preferably the tensioning means comprises a cord.

Preferably the cord is supported by the tubular members by passingthrough the tubular members.

In other embodiments the tensioning means could comprise springsinterconnecting the upright members and the base member.

Preferably the pair of uprights include a sleeve thereon which ismovable relative to the uprights.

Preferably the cross member comprises a plurality of tubular membershaving fixed sleeves at an end which will form the outer extremity ofeach when the support structure is assembled so that a plurality oftubular members can be connected together by inserting a free end of onetubular member into the sleeve of another tubular member.

The invention also provides a net support structure comprising:

a plurality of elongate frame modules;

connecting means on said frame modules for allowing the frame modules tobe connected end to end to form a net support structure of a desiredconfiguration; and

tensioning means supported by the modules for tensioning the moduleswhen the modules are connected together to form an erected net supportstructure and which join the modules when disconnected from one anotherso that the modules can be collapsed and stored whilst neverthelessbeing joined by the tensioning means.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a net support structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a joining member used in the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the joining member of FIG. 2 from the opposite side;

FIG. 4 is a view of a net support structure according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view of a further embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view of a further embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view of a further embodiment; and

FIGS. 8 and 12 are diagrams showing various net support structureconfigurations which can be formed according to embodiments of theinvention.

With reference to FIG. 1 the net support structure comprises a pair ofuprights 12 which are formed from tubular aluminium. The uprights 12 areprovided with sleeves 14 which are movable on the uprights 12 but whichare generally retained on the uprights 12. A cross member, which in thisembodiment is a base frame member 20, is provided to join the uprightmembers 12 and the base frame member 20 is formed from a plurality ofmodules 22, 24 and 26. The modules 22, 24 and 26 are also tubularaluminium members.

The uprights 12 are joined to the base member 20 formed from the modules22, 24 and 26 by joining members 30 which are generally in the form ofelbows and which have a pair of sockets 32 and 34. The elbows 30 arealso provided with an additional pair of sockets 36 which support legmembers 38 for stably supporting the net structure on the ground.

The elbows 30 are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The tubular module 26 is provided with sleeves 40 which are permanentlyfixed to the ends of the module 26. The modules 22 and 24 have a fixedsleeve 40 at the end of the modules which are intended to be theoutermost ends of those modules when the modules are connected together.The modules 22 are provided with a movable sleeve 14 similar to thesleeves 14 on uprights 12 and which are movable relative to the modules22.

The base member 20 is formed by simply sliding the free ends of thetubular modules 24 into the sleeves 40 on module 26. The free ends ofthe modules 22 are then inserted into sleeves 40 of the modules 24 withthe movable sleeves 14 on the modules 22 being moved out of the way toan intermediate position on modules 22 as shown. The sleeves 14 on themodules 22 play no part in this configuration. The sleeves 40 on themodules 22 now slot into sockets 34 on the elbows 30.

An elasticized cord 50 is provided which extends through uprights 12 andthe modules which make up base member 20 and is provided with toggles 52to prevent the ends of the elasticized cord from entering the uprights12. The toggles 52 may also be used to secure net 60 so that net 60 issuspended between the uprights 12.

Preferably the elasticized cord 50 is passed through the uprights 12 andthe members 20 and the toggles 52 are joined in place so that theuprights 12 and modules forming the member 20 are joined together. Thisgenerally ties the uprights 12 and modules 22, 24 and 26 together evenwhen the net structure is not erected. When the net structure is noterected the modules are just disconnected from another and from theelbows 30 by slipping the modules 22, 24 and 26 from the respectivesleeves and from the elbows so that they can be folded into side by siderelationship with the elasticized cord still passing through them andtherefore joining them together even in the collapsed state.

As is best shown in FIG. 3 the elbow 30 is provided with a slot 35 whichextends along the entire length of the elbow from the end of sockets 32to the end of socket 34. The slot 35 enables the elasticized cord 50 toenter the elbow 30 when the uprights 12 and frame members 22 are joinedwith the elbows 30 so that the elasticized cord is accommodated in theelbow 30.

The slot 35 in the elbows 30 enables the elbows to be inserted onto thecord so that the uprights 12 and frame member 22 can easily insertedinto the sockets 32 and 34 with the cord extending through the uprights12 and the sockets 22 and can enable the elbow 30 to be disassembledfrom the cord when desired to pack up and store or transport the netsupport structure.

The additional sockets 36 generally form an obtuse angle with thehorizontal so that the leg members 38 are splayed outwardly to supportthe frame member 20 and elbows 30 on or above the ground with theuprights extending upwardly preferably at an angle as shown in FIG. 1 sothat the net 60 can be easily suspended between them. The cord 50 iselasticized so that when the net 60 is suspended by the cord 50 itapplies tension to the upright 12 and the frame member 20 to tension thestructure.

The net 60 is provided with a heading tape 62 through which cord line 64passer which can be tied onto the toggles 52 to join the net 60 to theelasticized cords 50.

The heading tape 62 is provided with eyelets 70 to which are tied tiecords 69. The tie cords 69 can be used to pull the net 60 downwards toreduce its height and the tie cords 69 can be tied to base member 20 tohold the net in this position.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment where the net support structure isintended to support the net 60 at a higher level for playing volleyball,badminton or the like. In this embodiment the uprights 12 are formed byupright members identical to those used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 andwhich are referenced 12' in FIG. 4 and secondary uprights 22' which areidentical to the modular members 22 used in the horizontal frame member20 in FIG. 1. Thus, the elbows 30 are simply located between the modules24 and modules 22 instead of between the uprights 12 and modules 22. Inthis embodiment the movable sleeve 14 on the upright member 12 is simplyslid up along the upright 12 to expose the end of the upright 12' sothat the end of the upright 12' can be inserted into the fixed sleeve 40on the end of the frame member 22'. The movable sleeve 14 on the framemember 22' simply falls under the influence of gravity to be retained bysocket 32 of elbow 30.

The movable sleeve 14 which is on the uprights 12' simply falls underthe influence of gravity and rests on the sleeve 40 which is attached tothe upright 22' and in which the end of the tubular upright frame member12' is received.

The base frame member 20 is formed from the modular members 24 and 26which are described with reference to FIG. 1. Thus, the distance betweenthe uprights 12 is reduced compared to that in FIG. 1 but the height ofthe net is raised so that the net is now suitable for volleyball.

To secure the net the tie cords 69 tied to the eyelets 70 in the headingtape 62 are tied onto the toggles 52 to secure the net and shorten thelength of the net. The parts of the net beyond eyelets 70 simply fallfree.

Although the uprights 12 and frame member 20 are shown straight in thedrawings they tend to bow slightly when the net 60 is suspended becauseof tension applied by the cord 50.

In alternative embodiments instead of connecting the uprights 12 andmodules 22, 24 and 26 together by sleeves 40 the modules 22, 24, 26 andthe uprights 12 could be joined by making adjacent modules and uprightsof slightly different diameter tubular material so that the end of onemodule is telescopically received into the end of the adjacent module.The larger diameter module could be provided with rivets, depressions orthe like to act as an abutment to limit the amount of insertion of thesmaller diameter module.

In another embodiment the uprights 12 and modules 22, 24 and 26 could beof the same diameter and ends could be swayed to provide an enlargeddiameter portion or a small diameter portion for telescopically joiningthe modules.

In a further embodiment instead of utilizing the toggle 52 to preventthe cord 50 from being drawn out of the uprights 12 and modules 22, 24and 26 the cord 50 could be joined to the upper end of the uprights 12by means of an insert (which will be described with reference to FIG. 7)which is received and retained in the end of the uprights 12 and whichhas a hole through which the cord 50 passes and is tied off. An end cap(to be described with reference to FIG. 7) could be located over theuprights 12 to cover the insert. In this embodiment instead of using thetoggle 52 to secure the net, the net could be provided with a hook orclasp for securing it to the uprights 12 or a fixture connected to theuprights or the net could be provided with a sleeve which is merelyslipped over the uprights 12 in order to locate the net in place.

In the embodiments described above, the elbows 30 are provided with theslots 35 so that the elbows can be completely removed from theelasticated cord and can be repositioned between any of the uprights 12,and modules 22, 24 and 26. In an alternative embodiment the slot 35 inthe elbows 30 could be omitted so that the elasticated cord 50 passesthrough the elbows 30 and the elbows 30 are located only in one positionand remain in that position. In this embodiment the net structure wouldbe a fixed structure and a number of configurations would not normallybe available. Thus, the net would be a permanent tennis net with theelbows 30 fixed between the uprights 12 and modules 22, or a volleyballnet with the elbows 30 fixed between the modules 22' (FIG. 4) and themodules 24. However, even with the elbows 30 not provided with slots 35and permanently fixed on the elasticated cord 50 in a single position itis still possible in some instances to alter the configuration of thenet structure to allow different games to be played. For example, in thecase of the volleyball net shown in FIG. 4, even in the elbow 30 isfixed in place it would be possible to disconnect the uprights 12' fromthe modules 22' and fold the uprights 12' downwardly so that they arearranged adjacent to the modules 22'. The uprights 12' could be fixed tothe modules 22' by velcro (trade mark) fastener strips or the like andthe net could therefore extend between the top of the modules 22' toprovide a lower net for playing tennis or the like.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment which is similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 4expect that additional support members 102 are provided between upright12 and the ends of legs 38. The additional supports 102 could be tubularmembers, elasticated cords or the like. In this embodiment of theinvention the legs 38 are coplanar with the base member 20 so that thebase member 20, the elbow 30 and the legs 38 sit flat on the ground. Theadditional support members 102 securely tie the upright 12 to the legs38 to provided added strength and reinforcement for the net. If theadditional supports members 102 are elasticated cords eyes or the likecould be provided on the legs 38 and the uprights 12 for receiving theends of the cords. If the supports are in the form of tubular membersthen sockets or elbows could be provided on the legs 38 and the upright12 in order to receive the ends of the additional supports 102.

With reference to FIG. 6 a different method of joining the modules 22,24, 26, elbow 30 and upright 12 is shown. In this embodiment of theinvention instead of using the elasticated cord 50 springs are connectedbetween the modules 22, 24 and 26, the elbow 30 and the uprights 12. Themodules 22, 24, elbow 30 and upright 12 are shown separated for the easeof illustration. In order to erect the net the springs 100 simply pullthe ends of the modules 22, 24, elbow 30 and upright 12 together so thatthey abut the adjacent module, elbow or upright as the case may be, tosecurely hold the modules, elbow and upright together. The springs 100therefore tension the modules 22, 24, elbow 30 and upright 12 in thesame manner as the cord in the earlier embodiments. In order to collapsethe system the modules 22, 24, elbow 30 and upright 12 are simply pulledapart to stretch the springs 100 as shown in FIG. 6 and the modules arefolded into a position adjacent one another as in the earlier embodimentfor storage.

In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the legs38 are not joined by the cord 50 or any other members to the remainingcomponents of the net support structure. It would be possible in thoseembodiments to join the legs 38 by means of springs (not shown) to theelbows 30 so that they are always joined to the structure and can beconnected by simply allowing the springs to pull the legs 38 into thedesired supporting position and collapse by stretching the spring andallowing the leg 38 to be folded into the collapsed position beside thebase member 20 or upright 12. In yet a further embodiment instead ofusing springs to join the legs 38 to the elbows 30 separate elasticatedcords (not shown) could be used to perform this function.

FIG. 7 shows yet a further embodiment of the invention in which theupright 12 includes a socket 146 for receiving additional upright member148. Elasticated cord 50 is connected to insert 152 located in theuprights 12 by passing the elasticated cord through a hole (not shown)in the insert 152 and tying the cord off behind the insert 152. An endcap 154 can be located over the upright 12 to cover the insert 152 andthe tied off cord 50. Elasticated cord 50 joins the upright 12, elbow30, modules 22, 24 etc. in the same manner as in the earlier embodimentsand tensions them when the modules and uprights are connected together.A net such as a tennis can be coupled to the upright 12 by a hook orother fastener (not shown) which engages an eye or other fastener (notshown) on the upright 12. If it is desired to extend the height of thenet to play volleyball or the like the upright 148 is located in thesleeve 146 to support the net. Depending upon the height which isdesired for the net and the size of the uprights 148 a number ofuprights 148 could be utilized. Preferably those uprights are joined byan elasticated cord 51 which is secured to the lower end of the bottomupright 148 and passes through all of the uprights 148 and is connectedto the top of the upper upright 148 for joining the uprights 148 andtensioning them when in the erected state.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 also shows a method of connecting the upright12, elbow 30 and modules 22, 24 etc. by providing enlarged diameterswaged ends on the elbows 30, modules 22, 24 etc.

FIGS. 8 to 12 show some additional configurations which can be producedaccording to preferred embodiments of this invention. In each of theconfigurations shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 the modules 110 are the same asthe modules 22, 24, 26 and upright 12 previously described and they canbe joined and tensioned by means of an elasticated cord similar to thecord 50 or by means of the springs 100 between the modules 110. Themodules 110 are joined by any one of the methods previously described(i.e. by sleeves 40, small and large diameter modules, modules havingsmall and and large diameter ends etc.). Elbows (not shown in FIGS. 7,9, 10 and 11) are provided at all right angled corners. Depending on thenature of the net support structure the elbows can be provided withadditional sockets for legs supports or the additional sockets can beomitted if additional legs are not required.

FIG. 8 shows a net support structure for supporting a soccer net. Thestructure includes base modules 110a and upper modules 110b (whichcomprise cross members) and upright modules 110c. In the preferredembodiment of the invention the elbows at the corners (not shown) couldbe provided with slots similar to the slots 35 so that the elbows can beremoved and relocated between any of the modules 110 to change thedimensions and shape of the net. The configuration shown in FIG. 8 isbest suited for soccer or water polo but if the configuration is turnedon its side it could be used as a barrier net for other ball games or,indeed, the configuration of the net could be completely altered bymerely relocating the elbows between any of the desired modules to formright angled corners where desired in order to provide a net supportstructure of any desired shape.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 can also be used to form a cage by theuse of two structure of the type shown in FIG. 8 and by turning thestructures upside down and locating them side by side so that theyeffectively form a cage or race in which cricket, baseball or the likecan be practised.

FIG. 9 shows preferred elbows 30a and 30b which may be incorporated ifit is desired to use additional modules 120 to provide additionalsupport for the net structure. Elbows 30a would be arranged at thecorners C' and elbows 30b would be arranged at the corners C". Theelbows 30a and 30b are each provided with sockets 112 so that a tubularmodule 120 can be inserted into the sockets 112 to join the elbows andprovide additional reinforcement for the net structure. Once again inthe preferred embodiment the additional support modules 120 could becompletely removed from the net structure or could be joined to theelbows 30a and 30b by springs or elasticated cords to join those modulesto the other modules forming the net support structure.

FIG. 10 shows a rebound net formed from modules 110a which form an uppercross member and modules 100b which form uprights. This module can beused to act as a rebound net for practising ball games such as golf,tennis and the like. In this embodiment the net can be formed from twoparts 130 and 132. The net 130 can be a generally loose net similar to atennis net so that when a ball hits the net it drops without rebounding.The net 132 could be a taut net to act as a rebound net so that if theball hits that net it rebounds into play. In this manner a player canpractise tennis by hitting the ball towards the net with a view tohitting the rebound net 132 to obtain a rebound and to continue strikingthe ball to practise tennis strokes. If the ball hits the lower net 130it drops dead in a normal fashion that occurs when a ball hits aconventional tennis net. This structure is supported on legs 38 whichare connected to elbows similar to those FIGS. 2 and 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10 the upright modules 110b can be joined by apivot hinge so that the upper two modules 110b can be folded downadjacent to the lower modules 100b so that the rebound net 132 is movedout of the way so that the net support structure can be used as a normaltennis net.

FIG. 11 shows a golf practice net which is generally of L-shapeconfiguration formed of base modules 110a, uprights 112 and uppermembers 110c, mid-support members 110d are also provided. The netsupport structure supports a main net 134 and a mid-support protectionnet 136 for preventing a golf ball from striking the modules 110b andrebounding towards the player.

FIG. 12 shows a net which can be used to divided a cricket pitch so thatcricket can be practised with bowlers operating from the ends of thepitch at the same time. In this embodiment cross members 110a areprovided and uprights 110b. The uprights 110b are supported by legmembers 38. A net 140 is suspended by the net support structure and sidenets 142 are arranged between the leg members 38 and the upright members110b to provide additional protection.

Nets of the type shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 can be used as backstops,for other ball games such as baseball, softball and the like.

The nets which are connected to the net support structure shown in FIGS.8 to 12 can be joined to the modules which form the net supportstructure by hooks, ties or any suitable fasteners such as velcro (trademark) fasteners. Alternatively, an elasticated cord could be threadedthrough the net and wrapped around the modules which make up the netsupport structure in order to secure the net in place. When the netsupport structures are collapsed the net can be removed from thestructure or can be left attached to the structure and simply folded upwith the modules for storage.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention mayreadily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the particularembodiments described by way of example hereinabove.

We claim:
 1. A net support structure, comprising:a pair of tubularupright members; a tubular cross frame member; at least two joiningmembers for adjacently joining respective ends of the upright members torespective ends of the cross frame member; a single elastic tensioningcord extending interiorly through the upright members, joining membersand cross frame member; wherein when the tensioning cord is in tension,the upright members, the joining members and the cross frame member arebiased by the tensioning cord to be compressed against each other toform an erected net support structure, and when disconnected from oneanother, the upright members and the cross frame member remain joined bythe tensioning cord in a slack condition to maintain the upright membersand cross frame member together and allow the net support structure tobe collapsed and stored; and wherein the net support structure supportsa net over which a ball is to be hit, and the tensioning cord has freeends projecting from the upright members, and further including a netfor connection to the free ends of the tensioning cord for placing thetensioning cord in tension and also tensioning the net in the netsupport structure.
 2. The net support structure according to claim 1,wherein the net support structure supports a net from one of a tennisand a volleyball net.
 3. The net support structure according to claim 1,wherein the joining members include an additional pair of socketsconjoined in a plane transverse to a plane containing the first andsecond sockets, for receiving leg members for stably supporting the netsupport structure on the ground.
 4. The net support structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the upright members and the cross member comprisetubular members.
 5. The net support structure according to claim 1,wherein the joining members comprise a joining elbow having first andsecond sockets for receiving ends of the upright members and the crossmember.
 6. The net support structure according to claim 1, wherein thecross member and upright members are connected together bytelescopically engaging respective joining members.
 7. The net supportstructure according to claim 1, wherein the cross frame member includesa plurality of modules which are connected together in order to form thecross frame member, said tensioning cord joining the modules so thatwhen the modules are connected together they are put into compression bythe tension cord.
 8. The net support structure according to claim 1,wherein the joining members are releasably connectable to saidtensioning cord so that they can be separated from the tensioning cordand repositioned at a variety of locations to alter the height of theupright frame members and length of the cross frame member to change theheight and length of the net support structure.
 9. The net supportstructure according to claim 8, wherein the joining members compriseelbows and slots are provided in the elbows for receiving the tensioningmeans in order to releasably join the joining members to the tensioningcord.
 10. The net support structure according to claim 1, wherein thejoining members are in a fixed position and are permanently joined bythe tensioning cord between the upright frame members and the crossframe member.